Combination headgear and signaling device



A ril 1, 1969 R. E. CLARKE COMBINATION HEADGEAR AND SIGNALINQ DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 196 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT E CLARKE United States Patent 3,435,556 COMBINATION HEADGEAR AND SIGNALING DEVICE Robert E. Clarke, Bel Air, Md., assignor to Louis Marx & Co., Inc.

Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,642 Int. Cl. A63h 33/26 US. Cl. 46227 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A helmet having a battery operated signal producing means, a battery and a normally open switch for operating said signaling means mounted thereon. The switch is operated by the downwardly displacement of a chin strap in response to the opening of the wearers jaws.

The present invention relates to a combination headgear of a toy helmet and signal producing means associated with the helmet.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of a toy helmet and a safety signal with a novel operating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the present type that is simple and economical in its construction.

While several objects of the invention have been set forth, other objects, uses and advantages will become more apparent as the nature of the invention becomes more fully disclosed, including its novel construction, combination and arrangement of its several parts as shown in the illustration and described in the detail description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the toy headgear and signaling means.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the same.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 1.

In referring to the drawings like reference characters are used to designate like and similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises a signaling device carried on the upper surface of a toy helmet. The helmet is constructed preferably of a semi-rigid plastic, or other suitable material, and consists of a crown 1 and a ring or brim 1. A flexible cord member 2 is fixedly attached to one side of the brim 1' preferably by passing the cord 2 through an aperture 4 extending through a portion 3 adjacent the brim and placing a knot in the end of the cord, or securing the end by any other suitable means. The cord member extends downwardly for a distance as to extend under the chin of the wearer, then upwardly and slidably through an aperture 4 formed on the portion 3' on the opposite sides of the helmet. The cord extends above the aperture 4' and its end 5 is secured to the outer end 6 of flexible electric switch element 7 of a switch S.

The electric switch comprises, in addition to the flexible element 7, a second flexible element 8 insulated by the insulating material 17 and held together by the pin 17'. The outer end 8' of the element 8 is normally spaced downwardly from the member 7 and out of contact therewith. The member 8 being positioned to be contacted by the flexible member 7 when stress is placed on the member 7 by the downward pull of the cord 2.

On the upper surface of the helmet there is preferably an elongated recess 1" for receiving the signalling means.

The signalling means comprises a base portion 9 having ICC upwardly extending side portions 9' and 9" to form an elongated U-shaped support for a dry cell battery 15. Extending along the bottom of the U-shaped member 9 is an electric conductor strip 13. At one end of the U-shaped member 9 is a member 20 formed at right angles to the strip 13 and connected thereto, which is adapted to engage the end surface ofthe shell of the battery. At the opposite end of the U-shaped member there is a similar member 21 constructed of insulated material, and connected to the insulated member 21 is a spring-like member 21 of electric conductive material for contacting the center post of the battery. Connected to the spring 21 is an insulated wire 10 leading to one of the switch elements. Supported at each end of the strip 13 are electrically operable signal producing elements 12 and 12. The signal producing elements are supported upon the strip 13 by brackets 12" and 12". These brackets are connected to one terminal of the electrically operating mechanism for the signal producing elements. The other terminal of the electrically operating mechanism is connected to the spring member 21 through the switch S by means of wires 11, 22 and 23.

The switch S is normally in open position as shown in FIGURE 2 and when a downward pull is placed on the flexible cord member 2, the arm 7 is pulled down in contact with the outer end 8 of the arm 8 and the electric circuit is closed to operate the sound producing elements 12 and 12. Over the signal producing means and the battery 15 there is placed a protective cover 18.

With the battery in place the headgear is ready for operation.

In operation, the helmet is placed on the wearers head, the flexible cord member 2 is placed under the chin of the wearer, and the length of the member 2 is adjusted with the jaw closed by the member 3 adapted to frictionally engage the member 2 to such an extent as to remain in place after adjustment. When it is desirable to operate the signal producing means, the jaws are parted pressing downwardly on the flexible cord member 2 which will close the switch elements 7 and 8 completing the electric circuit to the battery 15 to operate the signal producing means.

The present article is not only a toy but is a safety device in instances such as a cyclists warning signal who normally has both hands occupied in maneuvering the cycle.

I claim:

1. A head gear comprising a helmet having a crown; a supporting means secured to the upper surface of said helmet crown; at least one electrically operated signaling means carried by said supporting means; battery means carried by said supporting means and operatively connected to said signaling means; a normally open electric switch carried by said supporting means and connected between said battery and said signaling means to control the operation thereof; and a chin cord formed in a loop depending from said head gear and having at least one end operatively connected to said switch, said chin cord being adapted to close said switch and actuate said signaling means upon the opening of the wearers jaws.

2. A head gear as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said signaling means produces an audible signal.

3. A head gear as recited in claim 1, wherein said normally open switch comprises a fixed contact and a spring arm disposed above said fixed contact, at least one end of said chin cord being attached to one end of said spring arm for pulling said spring arm into engagement with said fixed contact upon the opening of the wearers jaws.

4. A head gear as recited in claim 1, wherein the helmet is formed of a semi-rigid material and has a brim.

3 4 5. A head gear as recited in claim 1, including an ad- 3,182,422 5/1965 Ryan 46-454 justment means cooperating with said chin strap for chang- 3,309,691 3/1967 Bonnano 46-227 X ing the size of said chin strap 100p.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner.

References Cited 5 R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS ,943,186 6/1960 Weiss 240 6O US. Cl. X.R 3,150,461 9/ 4 Grist 46232 46 2 232; 

